Need Help - Buying Beretta 96D?

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nmastroi

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Hey guys,

I was approached to buy a Barettta 96D and I cant seem to find much about the gun. Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with this gun? Should I be worried that its a DAO/what are the downsides to that? I would be purchasing it for $450 with 4 clips, case and holster. Please let me know what you think guys because I need some guidance on this.

couldn't upload onto post so I uploaded pics on imageshack...

http://img299.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=p1010196.jpg
 
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Do some searches on Beretta and 96D in Pistols and Revolvers, with the time back to the max 36 months.

This has been done to death many times and there are plenty of threads on what you are looking for.

Unless this was privately owned, most are ex-police guns. The accessories you mention say ex-police.
Some who tried to run them hard, as in IPSC, had problems.
Others who bought them to plink, not so much so, but the odd one was a lemon; others like them.
Centurions are beefier than regular (which is yours), which was done because the .40 may have been too hot for the regular 96D.
You can convert from the D to single/double action as a slick slide, but you have to ask yourself if you are into tinkering or amateur gunsmithing.
And if the pics are so dark all you can see is the outline of a pistol, ask for better ones.
YMMV.
 
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Thanks Bullwhip, I did a search earlier this morning but I must have overlooked the timeframe portion of the search. I will check it out now.

Any comment on fairmarket price of the gun anyone? I dont think its a Centurion
 
nmastroi said:
Thanks Bullwhip, I did a search earlier this morning but I must have overlooked the timeframe portion of the search. I will check it out now.

Any comment on fairmarket price of the gun anyone? I dont think its a Centurion
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No that's not a Centurion. If it's in very good shape and a police trade in that's a good price. Like it was said though you need some new pics in order to better see the condition.
 
DAO autos usually have crappy triggers. The asking price is relatively low for a reason.
 
What are you looking to use the gun for and what is your overall experience with handguns?

My brother bought one as his first restricted a year and a half ago. It was an old police gun. He grew to hate it. Literally hate it.

It feels authoratative in the hand as I'm sure any berretta or other all steel guns feel (as compared to the polymers).

But the DAO trigger pull makes consistent accurate shooting very difficult and is a little tiring after a full day on the range.

When we took our BlackBadge training the instructor had a race gun. But he said he could do the same profeciency with any of our duty pistols. So my brother offered up for him to prove it with his 96D. Instructor fired 6 shots with lack luster results and handed it back to him saying the DAO trigger was too challenging.

The pull weight was huge and the length of travel was so long and required such effort that I had trouble keeping the pad of my finger placed on the trigger throughout the pull.

It definately convinced me that DAO will never be for me.

That is an average price for that package. But you aren't too far off from other used guns that may work out better for your experience level / desired use or from some very nice entry level new guns.

I could see it being good for a collector type; someone looking to just get any restricted at a low price regardless of quality or possible enjoyment and looking to upgrade later or someone who needs to carry one, not shoot it very much and who needs that first shot to be uncomplicated and definate (which is what I'm assuming it was designed for).
 
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I have a Ber 96D ex-police gun for the last 5 yrs and shot more then 7K rnds - cost me the ammo five times the pistol value ...LOL
NO PROBLEMS with this Beretta 96D, never had FTF or FTL !!!
Ber 96D is a real accurate if you get used to shoot DAO trigger system.
You have to squeeze NOT to pull the trigger... my trigger is smooth and soft, it's not heavy at all, has original set-up made by factory, no modif. made so far... !
"Beretta, 500 Years, One Passion"
 
They're ex-police guns so they're pretty cheap. Most have only been fired a handful of times but have a bit of holster wear. They're DAO with very heavy triggers so fine for duty carry but not so great for target shooting or IPSC.

Apart from that they're great guns, classic Beretta quality. I've fired one in the USA and it handled great, was accurate, and balanced well. The Beretta frame seems much more suited to .40 than it does 9mm.

I guess it's an OK deal for a plinking gun but don't expect to win any trophies with it. I'm probably going to pick one up when my RPAL arrives :)mad: whenever that is) if they're still available, just for something to screw around with and so I can say I have a Beretta. :p
 
That price is about the going rate from the 3 sources I'm aware of for these ex-police pistols. You're getting an extra mag from what I'm aware of.
 
Wolfstrack said:
I have a Ber 96D ex-police gun for the last 5 yrs and shot more then 7K rnds - cost me the ammo five times the pistol value ...LOL
NO PROBLEMS with this Beretta 96D, never had FTF or FTL !!!
Ber 96D is a real accurate if you get used to shoot DAO trigger system.
You have to squeeze NOT to pull the trigger... my trigger is smooth and soft, it's not heavy at all, has original set-up made by factory, no modif. made so far... !
"Beretta, 500 Years, One Passion"
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I like the DAO too. I setup one of my 92FS 9mm for DAO.
 
Thanks for the heads-up guys....

Who is is selling them? Is it off EE or are there web-sites?

I am new to RPAL and want to start off with some cheaper but good guns....
 
nmastroi said:
Thanks for the heads-up guys....

Who is is selling them? Is it off EE or are there web-sites?

I am new to RPAL and want to start off with some cheaper but good guns....
Click to expand...

Police Ordnance is selling packages that include either a 96D or 96D Centurion, one mag, a holster, and belt for $550. I also believe that TSE is selling just the 96D and one mag for $430, but I don't think their website is100% working right now so I can't check.
 
I own one and I like it. As others have said the DAO is a little harder than other guns but once you get used to it the aim improves. The price is very close to what I paid last summer and my wife and I have put over 600 rounds through it so far. Just remember you are getting alot of gun for the buck but the ammo is more money than the 9mm. I will have no plans to ever get rid of it but will probably add a new toy to the collection when I get serious about a black badge course. If you haven't fired a DOA yet and are in my area I would be more than willing to take you to the range.:D
 
The trigger pull is quite long and a little heavy. I removed the barrel, recoil guide rod, and recoil spring and locked back the slide which put tension on the mainspring and left it for a week. It seemed to make the trigger pull lighter.

I heard 1911 mainsprings can lighten up the trigger pull but I never tried it. The friend of mine used to be a US Marine told me about putting a 1911 mainspring in his M9 and it helped with the trigger pull considerably.
 
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Ex service pistols, good and bad, if they are a 'street gun' ( general duties member ) they will be in decent shape maybe couple hundred rounds a year, if it was a 'ert' members gun it could see several thousands of rounds and much more wear and tear....
 
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